Brendan Rodgers had Celtic fans eating out of his hand for the majority of his first spell in charge.
That was up until his shock mid-season departure for Leicester City – he “traded immortality for mediocrity” in their eyes – left them gobsmacked and the mood quickly changed to one of anger. Four years on and for a far smaller section of the support that feeling of resentment remains as Rodgers has the job of winning over any doubters after his previously unthinkable return to the Hoops hotseat.
In announcing his appointment on a three-year deal, Rodgers said everything you would expect on the club statement. He spoke of the great “privilege” of being asked to manage the club again, how they had “enjoyed some great times at Celtic before” and that he “will be doing all I can to maintain Celtic’s momentum as we face into all our domestic and European challenges”. It was all nice stuff but skirting around many of the main issues. The hardcore Hoops fans group the Green Brigade even took to social media to post the image of a banner describing Rodgers as a “fraud” shortly after the announcement and that alone has divided opinion among the fans.
